Sunday, 28 July 2013

Hayden nearing end of career

MATTHEW Hayden has refused to guarantee his spot on next year's Ashes tour and admits his career has become a game-by-game proposition.

Hayden has been told by the national selectors he is part of their plans for the next 12 months.

But for the first time the veteran opener conceded the clock is ticking on his decorated career. At 37, and about to embark on his 99th Test - and perhaps last at his home ground of the Gabba -- Hayden acknowledged he is no certainty to be around once this summer is over.

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"I reckon there is a chance of that always. When you get to my age, you get to a point where the next 12 months is a long, long way away," he said.

"But having said that, I have been really process-driven right the way through my career.

"It's all been about how I was going to present myself for this Test match and whether I was in good shape to play. I feel like both of those are crossed off. Both (wife) Kellie and I have really kept it as simple as that.

"I didn't realise I was going to play one Test, let alone this is my 99th Test, so it's a great opportunity to be playing in front of my home crowd again and I am going to really savour every moment."

He wasn't able to do that on the doomed tour of India where he began underdone because of injury, lost some of his renowned confidence and, at least initially, was troubled by the swing and guile of fast bowler Zaheer Khan.

A favorite hunting ground before the 2-0 series defeat, Hayden left the sub-continent with a modest tour haul of 234 runs at an average of 33.42.

This has sparked public debate about just how long the man with more than 8000 Test runs and 30 centuries has left in the game, and prompted Kellie and her husband - enjoying life with their three young children - to go back to the whiteboard.

"There are two answers that I need to say to myself before I present myself for Australia," Hayden said.

"One of them is, am I willing to make the sacrifices to be the best athlete I can be, whatever that takes?

"And the second is, is that fire burning within me to play good cricket for Australia - or anyone else that I'll be playing for, for that matter?"


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